Pierce, Temple run over Wyoming

Owls get second bowl win in school history

Associated Press

Published 12:15 am, Sunday, December 18, 2011

Photo: Jake Schoellkopf

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Temple running back Bernard Pierce (30) leaps over Wyoming defensive back Kenny Browder (24) and linebacker Brian Hendricks (8) in the second quarter of the New Mexico Bowl NCAA college football game in Albuquerque, N.M., Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011. (AP Photo/Jake Schoellkopf) less

Temple running back Bernard Pierce (30) leaps over Wyoming defensive back Kenny Browder (24) and linebacker Brian Hendricks (8) in the second quarter of the New Mexico Bowl NCAA college football game in ... more

Photo: Jake Schoellkopf

Pierce, Temple run over Wyoming

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Temple came out swinging against Wyoming, jumping to a 21-0 lead in the first half of the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday.

But when Wyoming freshman Brett Smith threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Josh Doctson with 37 seconds remaining in the first half, Temple quarterback Chris Coyer feared that Wyoming found a spark.

"We knew they had swung the momentum their way. It was a big touchdown for them," Coyer said.

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Bernard Pierce ran for two early touchdowns and Coyer threw for 169 yards and the touchdown to help Temple overwhelm Wyoming 37-15 in the New Mexico Bowl — the first bowl game of the season.

The Owls (9-4) had three interceptions — tying a New Mexico Bowl record — en route to the second bowl victory in school history. The first interception came at the start of the second quarter when Temple's Kee-arye Griffin picked off Smith's pass to setting up Matt Brown's 1-yard touchdown run that gave the Owls a 21-0 lead.

The last one came late in the game to Temple's Kevin Kroboth, resulting in a field goal.

"Our starting point is playing great defense," first-year Temple coach Steve Addazio said. "That's what our program's built around. We lead a lot of statistical categories in the country, and we have a lot of pride in playing great defense."

The New Mexico Bowl was Temple's second bowl game in three years, but that 2009 game — a 30-21 loss to UCLA in the EagleBank Bowl in Washington — was the Owls' first bowl in 30 years. The Mid-American Conference East runner-up did not get a bowl invite last year despite going 8-4.

Sophomore Coyer, who also rushed for 71 yards, was selected the game's offensive MVP.

"Getting on top early, of course, was going to be a big deal in this game," Coyer said. "We knew that they had a very explosive offense, and throughout the year that's been big for us — to get ahead early."

Meanwhile, Smith was held to just 127 yards by a greedy Owls defensive line that prevented the Cowboys from getting anything started.

"Not his best day," Cowboys coach Dave Christensen said. "But the great news is he's got three more years and he'll work extremely hard in the offseason. He'll bounce back. He always does."

The loss dropped the Cowboys (8-5) to 6-7 in bowl games. It was a disappointed effort by Wyoming after the Cowboys won the 2009 New Mexico Bowl in double overtime, beating Fresno State 35-28.

Ohio, 24, Utah State 23

BOISE, Idaho — Ohio quarterback Tyler Tettleton scored on 1-yard run with 13 seconds left to give the Bobcats a 24-23 victory over Utah State on Saturday in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Tettleton also threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns. He led a 61-yard drive in the final 2 minutes to give Ohio (10-4) its first bowl victory and first 10-win season since 1968.

Tettleton was 3 of 4 on the final drive, and had a 14-yard pass to LaVon Brazill on fourth down to put the Bobcats inside the 1 with 37 seconds left on a play that was initially ruled a touchdown.

Tettleton scored two plays later when he rolled out to the right and outran two defenders to the end zone.